After the most successful season in the promotion’s history, Bellator was back tonight with the first of three Summer Series events aimed at naming a few new title-contenders and keeping fans entertained until the organization returns on a weekly basis this fall. Specifically, Bellator 96 featured the first round of two four-man tournaments highlighting talent in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

Both heavyweight fights ended with opening round knockouts, seeing Martinez and Minakov advance to a tilt with a title-shot on the line, while Noe pulled off an upset over “Babalu” by peppering him with strikes to the point the referee intervened despite Sobral still standing and Lawal blasted Petruzelli into la-la land with a huge shot from above.

Also worth mentioning, Sobral announced his retirement after his clash’s conclusion, walking away after more than 15 years in the sport.

This is the 4th time Porn Machine is supposed to make his Bellator debut. Not sure how the hell he’s back so soon from a broken leg and torn ACL, but maybe he’ll actually make it into the cage tonight.